[Michigander]

I have found a Navik Windvane steering system for $300ish. It is a days drive from me (8 hours away) or I could get it shipped but I dont know how much that would cost (being it weighs 50lbs approximately).

Seller says it comes with all the parts except the required lines and common hardware. Seems too good to be true idk.. How much do Naviks run new? are they still in production? Im not sure if it comes with the manual, which could be a deal breaker.

Anyone familiar with Naviks first hand or have one? Are there parts that might go bad like bearings and such that would be hard/expensive to replace?

Thanks in advance. I dont have much time to make a decision on this so all input is greatly appreciated!

 

[Michigander]

Well i did find the manual online so that shouldnt be an issue. http://www.bluemoment.com/manuals/navik.pdf

 

[tdw]

Had experience with a couple of these units on sub 30' sloops back in the 1980s and they where a fine bit of kit. One of those boats sailed from Sydney Australia to Goa in India.

I know Plastimo have discontinued them but not at all sure if parts are still available.

Parts available here ???

Navik spare parts | Mister Vee wind vane self steering

 

[Minnewaska]

Common hardware and lines could add up. Be sure you know precisely what you require. They've been out of production for nearly a decade, but perhaps the folks tdw links will make parts for a while. Who knows.

I still wonder what you hope to use it for? You need good wind and sea room for it to be useful.

 

[Michigander]

Common hardware and lines could add up. Be sure you know precisely what you require. They've been out of production for nearly a decade, but perhaps the folks tdw links will make parts for a while. Who knows.

I still wonder what you hope to use it for? You need good wind and sea room for it to be useful.

I will be sailing in Lake Michigan, no lack of wind or room there.

 

[Minnewaska]

I will be sailing in Lake Michigan, no lack of wind or room there.

Are you routinely crossing the lake? If sailing out and back from a harbor, I would not expect a vane to help with much. A tiller pilot would work 100% of the time. A vane, only in certain circumstances.

Also, you need good steady wind, not just some wind. I'm ot familiar with average Lake Mich conditions. My time in Wisconsin, however, suggests hot and humid and light wind, unless a storm is passing.

Good luck.

 

[Michigander]

Are you routinely crossing the lake? If sailing out and back from a harbor, I would not expect a vane to help with much. A tiller pilot would work 100% of the time. A vane, only in certain circumstances.

Also, you need good steady wind, not just some wind. I'm ot familiar with average Lake Mich conditions. My time in Wisconsin, however, suggests hot and humid and light wind, unless a storm is passing.

Good luck.

I plan do to some weekend trips if not longer. We get more than enough wind on the Michigan side.

 

[SVTatia]

Are you routinely crossing the lake? If sailing out and back from a harbor, I would not expect a vane to help with much. A tiller pilot would work 100% of the time. A vane, only in certain circumstances....

Minne is absolutely right. Just pass this one up - but send me the information of where it is...

Joking aside, for common hardware he probably means the blocks you'll need for the tiller/wheel lines?
Although you mention that it comes with all the parts, just make sure that these are in good condition as they may not be repairable. The price is as you said, too good to be true, so buyer beware. I hope you did get some pictures and know what shape its in before you tackle the long drive.. Keep us posted and good luck.

 

[tdw]

Hard one .... I liked the Navik and I like our Hydravane but most of the time we still use the Auto Pilot. Really, a windvane is for passage making, even if that passage is only half a day. For all their good points it is not just a matter of pressing a button and away we go. Always seems to be a bit of fiddling around with the vane.

I just find that on coastal passage where we need to change course to avoid other boats or commercial shipping, where we may be tacking every hour or so if we are coast hugging to keep out of the current then the vane is more hassle than the AP.

Off shore it would be a different matter.

 

[Michigander]

Minne is absolutely right. Just pass this one up - but send me the information of where it is...

Joking aside, for common hardware he probably means the blocks you'll need for the tiller/wheel lines?
Although you mention that it comes with all the parts, just make sure that these are in good condition as they may not be repairable. The price is as you said, too good to be true, so buyer beware. I hope you did get some pictures and know what shape its in before you tackle the long drive.. Keep us posted and good luck.

Don't underestimate the sneakyness:batter haha. How much would you think its worth? If condition is fairly good with all parts?

 

[TQA]

Before you buy it contact Mr Vee and make sure the plastic parts are currently available.

The originals will be fragile / brittle by now.

If you buy it and plan to go offshore spares of the joint rod and windvane pivot are a good idea.

It works surprisingly well for something that looks a little on the small side for a 30 - 35 ft boat.

 

[Shinook]

They are heavy, aren't they?

 

[SVTatia]

Don't underestimate the sneakyness:batter haha. How much would you think its worth? If condition is fairly good with all parts?

Even though this is an old and discontinued, if it is in good shape it could be worth $1K or more.
...hard to tell without seeing it, but you could be up to a very good deal.

 

[Minnewaska]

I have found a Navik Windvane steering system for $300ish.....

.... How much would you think its worth?.......

Unless the buyer or seller are under duress or one is doing the other a favor, if that's what you're willing to pay, that's what it's worth. In a highly liquid market, it is possible that the buyer and seller are both ill informed and agree to a non-market price, but it's rare. In this case, I suspect it is a very limited market and it is what it is. If it's lower than it should be, there could be a reason.

Good luck.

 

[appick]

I will be sailing in Lake Michigan, no lack of wind or room there.

I've been sailing Lake Michigan for the better part of 12 years now. I'd like to know where you are sailing that you have strong and steady enough of wind to use regularly. Also are you going to be sailing in the middle of the lake which is about 30-40 miles out.

Sorry I shouldn't be so snarky. The reality is if you're weekend sailing a wind vane will work for maybe about 30% of the time if your lucky. About half the time when you go out on the weekend in the summer there won't be enough wind to really go anywhere. If the wind is blowing it will usually be from the wrong direction so you'd have to beat to windward, which on a 25ft boat is going to SUCK in Lake Michigan. The waves are short and steep, 3ft waves for any length of time if you're trying to go anywhere are going to be about the limit you'd want to bash into. So when the time comes and you do have wind, and there is enough to move the boat, half the time figure you are running downwind. Now guess what the windvane doesn't work AGAIN.

Trust me you'll be motoring a lot more than you think you will. Which is ok because it's still a day spent on the water. For the price difference between the Raymarine St1000 and this used 20-30 years old windvane is about $100 bucks, not including at least the $100 you'll spend on blocks and line to hook it up. The windvane will work about 10-20% of the time (if it works at all, may need parts that are no longer available). The tiller pilot will work about 90% of the time, as long as it has power. The other 10% the wind will be too high or the waves too much and the weather helm will keep it from being able to hold a course.

In short unless you plan to leave the great lakes and do passages in the trades, where you have constant wind for days on end, get a tiller pilot. Most cruisers that have a windvane will have an autopilot. Why not start with and autopilot and see if you need a windvane. If you're worried about battery capacity get a small solar panel, or maybe your outboard has an alternator already.

You'll get tons of use out of the autopilot. You can interface it with small handheld GPS and have it run way-points for you. You can tap the +10 and -10 button at the same time and have it tack for you while you work the jib sheets. The autopilot will warn you if it's not able to hold a course. All these things will make single handing or sailing with an inexperienced partner so much easier. The windvane will do none of these things.

However if you're set on your windvane go for it. I hope it works out for you and I hope to see you out there sailing.

PS. We sail out of Muskegon MI and live in Grand Rapids. If you have any questions feel free to drop me a line. If you're ever planning on stopping in Muskegon drop me a line, we'll get some Bloody Mary's with Lobster claws in them at Dockers.

 

[miatapaul]

Unless the buyer or seller are under duress or one is doing the other a favor, if that's what you're willing to pay, that's what it's worth. In a highly liquid market, it is possible that the buyer and seller are both ill informed and agree to a non-market price, but it's rare. In this case, I suspect it is a very limited market and it is what it is. If it's lower than it should be, there could be a reason.

Good luck.

And add to that the fact that it is within 8 hours of the Michigan side of Lake Michigan so it likely have very limited market to sell it since it is not really in a place they are useful. Now if it were in someplace that someone might have just run a passage to, and had there wind-vane/auto pilot fail or even a place where there are more people making plans for offshore passages it would likely be worth more. A Porsche is not worth much in the outback where there are only dirt roads, worth less than a beat up broken down Toyota pick up! But given the size of the Navik, and the limited market for such a small capacity wind vane, seems to me that is not really a to good to be true price at all. Factor you will need at least a bushing kit and likely a couple hundred in blocks and line, you are quickly getting to the boat buck amount.

Keep in mind that this will be unlikely to add even a dollars worth of value to the boat. An Auto pilot will at least make the boat more sale-able if not more valuable. I am assuming you are resistant to the idea of an auto pilot because of limited electrical capacity? Keep in mind it will take at least 15 or more knots of wind. Average wind speed for Muskegon, Mi is 7.8 to 10.5 knots, so not enough. A small solar panel won't be too expensive and should keep up.

 

[Michigander]

PS. We sail out of Muskegon MI and live in Grand Rapids. If you have any questions feel free to drop me a line. If you're ever planning on stopping in Muskegon drop me a line, we'll get some Bloody Mary's with Lobster claws in them at Dockers.

Haha will do! Don't see myself down that far anytime soon but ya never know. If your ever up in Onekama give me a shout. We'll grab some of the best pizza in town at the local gas station hahaha.

Just found this video

If thats life with an autopilot ill "rough it"

 

[ccriders]

What you never know in a video like this is whether the "operator" ever read the book and knows how to make the adjustments for satisfactory operation. That auto pilot can be adjusted to account for sea state, but it appears to not have been done. Maybe he should put down the camera and read the manual.
Happy sails,
John

 

[tdw]

Haha will do! Don't see myself down that far anytime soon but ya never know. If your ever up in Onekama give me a shout. We'll grab some of the best pizza in town at the local gas station hahaha.

Just found this video

If thats life with an autopilot ill "rough it"

Why that TillerPilot is behaving like that I have no idea but it does not match up with my experiences.

We sailed a 34' masthead sloop up the NSW coast under TillerPilot and had zero problems. Provided you set the boat so she is not stressing the rudder, so no weatherhelm e.g. the TP should take it all in its stride.

Our girl (42') has a Raymarine below deck auto pilot but also has a Tiller Pilot that attaches to the Hydrovane as an emergency backup. Yes it has its limits but still manages to cope when required.

 

[Markwesti]

One thing IMO, wind vanes look awesome . I love hardware like that , if I were you I'd go get that thing PDQ . Michigander what 20 ft. boat do you have ? A friend of mine has a PC Flicka 20ft. He has a Monitor on it , he uses it for day sailing all the time but he has a electric AP Also . OK , sorry for the hijack . Andrew , you out there ? My notification & PM got turned off , and I can't turn it back on , help ?